“Babe, freshen up,” Grace coaxes. “Then I think we need to talk.”
I’ve had the quickest shower known to man and am now sitting on the couch in the living space in the suite, every pair of eyes on me as my mom passes me my phone.
“I think you need to see these. It should explain most of your questions.” I gingerly take the phone from her, and I’m hit with a pang of regret as she looks at me with kind eyes, but her sad smile hits me in the gut. She’s disappointed.
Fuck!
Unlocking my phone with shaky fingers, I tap on the messages in our joint bachelor and bachelorette group chat.
Ria - I’m heading to a bar with Leo. Don't wait up.
Grace - Make sure Chuckles looks after you.
Leo - I’ll look after her like the precious jewel she is.
Lily - Bit creepy Leo
Leo - My Ri Ri knows how precious I think she is
Ria - Back at you.
Hunter - You do know I’m in this chat right?
A few more messages are passed before I see the first photo, and it’s me and Leo in a country bar. I’m wearing a cowboy hat that reads “wear the hat, ride the cowboy” and I’m sitting on Leo’s lap, a huge smile on my face, and he’s grinning wide as he squishes his face to mine.
The next photo is of us at the tattoo parlor, and we’re both proudly showing our new ink.
Every photo that comes into the chat, I’m either on Leo’s knee or wrapped around him in some way or another.
And then we both sent a cryptic text.
Ria - About to do something very special
Leo - Something I’ve always wanted to do
I look up at Mom and the girls who are still silent as I scroll through my night.
“Keep going, sweetie.”
When the next photo appears, I almost drop my phone. I have the goofiest smile on my face as Leo kisses my cheek while holding me in his arms, bridal style. I’m clutching a bouquet of blue tulips and have a short veil draped haphazardly on the top of my head, and we both look like we don’t have a care in the world.
“I—I married Leo?”
Chapter 15
Leo
“Imarried Ria?” I shriek, and my eyes bug out as if they’re about to fall out of my head when I look at the photo on Hunter’s phone. “Why would I do that? It has to be a joke.” I begin pacing the space, pulling at my hair so hard that I fear clumps will come out in my hands. “You did this.” I point at Kai and stride toward him. “You’re clever; you've done some AI shit to make it look like I did this.”
“Woah, man.” Kai holds his hands up in surrender. “I love a joke more than the average man, but making someone believe they married their best friend’s sister is a low blow even for me.”
“Okay, okay, if you didn’t do it then someone else must have.” I continue my pacing, sensing every eye in the room on me. “Ah-ha,” I exclaim, spinning quickly and holding my hand up. “If wegot married I would have a ring.” Grinning, I wait for someone to tell me I’m correct and I can move on with the hangover from hell.
“You mean this one?” Deacon pulls a standard white gold band out of his trousers and hands it to me.
“That’s not mine,” I scoff, backing away.
“Well, it isn’t mine.” He crosses his arms over his chest.
